They broke from the kiss, both breathing hard. It took them both a moment to recover, and to regain dignity and composure. They gazed at each other in silence for an entire minute before Tezuka spoke.

“This is not a good idea,” Tezuka said flatly.

“If we try it, we can find out for certain whether it’s a good idea or not,” Tachibana replied. He slid his hands down Tezuka’s sides until they rested on the other’s hips.

“We both lead very busy lives,” Tezuka stated. “Neither one of us has time for a relationship at the moment.”

“If we both take some time off, it will be good for us in more ways than one,” Tachibana pointed out, pulling Tezuka closer so that their bodies were pressed together.

“We can never be one another’s top priority,” Tezuka said quietly. “You know that.”

“Yes, I do,” Tachibana returned, with a hint of a smile. “But if we both know that, then what does it matter?”

“This cannot last,” Tezuka told him, his tone firm and unyielding. “Not anything between the two of us.”

“If we both want it to last, it will,” was Tachibana’s response. He leaned the inch forward it would take to seal their lips together once more…the inch that it would take, that was, if Tezuka didn’t resist.